Guy Gibson

Why Famous:Guy Gibson was the commanding officer for the Royal Air Force's No. 617 Squadron and led Operation Chastise - the 'Dambusters' raid over the Ruhr dams in May 1943. Gibson was later awarded the Victoria Cross, becoming at the time the most highly decorated British serviceman.

Gibson continued to fly and was killed in action while on another raid over Germany, his plane crashing in the Netherlands in 1944.